Sunday, June 05, 2011

LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 5, 2011) – Security forces clashed with former Moro rebels believed to be holding a kidnapped Filipino in the southern province of Lanao del Sur in Mindanao Island, an army commander said Sunday.

Colonel Daniel Lucero, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said gunmen headed by Nasser Lopoc first attacked police forces sent to rescue Amerodin Tomara in the village of Gacap in Balindong town.

The attack sparked a firefight between the two groups until army soldiers arrived to reinforce the policemen, Lucero said. “At least 12 gunmen clashed with security forces,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said the fighting stopped after the gunmen retreated to the hinterlands. Lucero did not give details about the kidnapping or its motive. (Mindanao Examiner)